Hoffenheim vs Bochum prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-10-18 13:30.
[p]Reports in Germany suggest that Hoffenheim are going to stick with under-pressure manager Pellegrino Matarazzo despite having won none of their last five Bundesliga fixtures (D1, L4). A battling 1-1 draw against Stuttgart and a 2-0 UEFA Europa League win over Dynamo Kyiv seem to have bought him more time, although Die Kraichgauer have made their worst six-game start to a league campaign since 2015/16.[/p]
[p]They eventually finished 15th that season, so they have previous form in recovering from bad starts, but alarm bells may start to ring if they struggle against Bochum, one of the two sides that went into the international break below them. Hoffenheim have, however, lost their last two home league games while conceding eight times overall, making it entertaining for the neutrals as each of their last four such fixtures have produced more than 4.5 goals (W2, L2)![/p]
[p]Goals have also been flying in during the visitors’ matches, but not enough at the right end as they only have a 2-2 draw with recently promoted Holstein Kiel (L5) to show for their efforts so far in the league in 2024/25. Despite propping up the rest of the Bundesliga, Bochum aren’t likely to switch managers yet either, with sporting director Marc Lettau saying that will only happen if the team is “totally failing”.[/p]
[p]If not failing, they are certainly struggling on the road, as they’ve won just one of their last 14 league away fixtures (D2, L11), including their last visit to Hoffenheim in December (L 3-1). Going 2-0 up at Borussia Dortmund was one of the few positives of Bochum’s early-season trips, but eventually losing 4-2 indicates that more staying power is needed to avoid a third straight H2H defeat here.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Right wing-back Valentin Gendrey has already proved his worth for Hoffenheim since his summer move from Lecce with a goal contribution in each of the last two games (G1, A1), with his assist coinciding with his new side’s first clean sheet of the season. Keeping Bochum’s Myron Boadu quiet could be key, and the Dutchman has interestingly scored four of his last six goals between the 70th and 85th minutes.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Hoffenheim have scored and conceded in all six of their league matches this term (Bochum: four).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]